POTD: Mentorship

Some History:

The term mentorship is derived from Homer’s epic, The odyssey. Mentor was the name of a character that guided Telemachus on his journey to find his father Odysseus. Today a mentor means a wise and trusted counselor or teacher. Whether directly or indirectly, mentorship is pervasive in our culture and crucial to the advancement of society.

Mentorship is a key factor in promoting and maintaining fulfillment in medical practice. The mentor-mentee relationship benefits both parties in different ways. Mentors benefit from the altruistic success of helping others achieve their goals. Mentees benefit in the sense that they establish a person they can rely on for advice, suggestions, and coaching. Senior colleagues who share similar interests in clinical practice, research, administrative or community service serve as the best mentors. Mentors are role models who also act as guides for students and residents in both their personal and professional development.

 When should physicians start seeking out a mentor and how?

·       Mentors should be established early on in residency and even throughout medical school training when students find their niche and interests.

·       The best way to start a mentee-mentorship relationship is reach out to someone with a specific request that shares similar interests. These will naturally then develop into a mentorship.

·       Many national organizations (eg. EMRA) also offer mentorship and pair mentees with mentors of similar interests.

·       Establishing a mentor does not need to be a formal process many times this occurs informally

·       The best way to find a mentor is to find people you admire in your field or someone in a position that you might envision yourself in one day

 What qualities or traits should mentees look for in a mentor?

·  Find a mentor who you feel you can connect with and will inspire you and support you throughout your journey

·  A mentor should be someone that can celebrate you as an individual during the best of times and someone that can also help you overcome roadblocks

·  The key to mentorship is feeling comfortable with your mentor

 Can you only have one mentor or is it ok to have multiple mentors?

· It is good to have a few mentors as each mentor will likely have their own expertise. For example someone that is a great clinical mentor may be different then someone you may want to approach to help mentor you in research vs someone who can help guide your career path

 What is the Mentees role?

·      Mentees should take initiative in driving their relationships with mentors.

·      Be proactive around scheduling meetings and identifying topics of discussion with your mentor

·      The ability to critique oneself and make changes on the basis of advice and probing from a mentor is important to a mentee’s development

 Want to get involved in Mentorship here are a few places you can sign up to be a mentor for medical students:

·      https://medicalmentor.org/join-us/

·      https://www.emra.org/students/advising-resources/student-resident-mentorship-program/

“ A good mentor is a tremendous asset in this complex profession, so search for one. Once you have found one, cherish his or her time and wisdom. Mentors, in addition to teaching through words and deeds, show us care and respect and empower us to confidently approach the myriad complications inherent to the human condition.” Dr. Ahmed Mian

Go out there and find your mentors!

Sources:

·      https://www.nejmcareercenter.org/article/physician-mentorship-why-it-s-important-and-how-to-find-and-sustain-relationships-/

·      https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29691796/

·      https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(10)00385-6/pdf

·      https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/the-importance-of-mentorship/

·      https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/the-importance-of-mentorship/

POTD: An Uninvited Guest (Wellness Friday)

POTD:  An Uninvited Guest (Wellness Friday)

an uninvited guest

settles in the valley of my heart

makes a home within my chest

and refuses to depart

the mountains of my lungs

are crumbling down beneath his weight

as he pollutes the peace once there

with oppression and hate

there are waves of emotions

that pound against my veins

lost in a whirl of wind

as they rage in a hurricane

the currents get rough

and I find myself lost at sea

within a jagged ocean as vast

as the emptiness I flee

my nights have grown longer

as I struggle to fall asleep

my days have blurred together

and my body has grown weak

tracks run over my wrist

as the departing train voices its last call

is it better to feel pain

than to feel nothing at all?

emotions cloud my thoughts

smoke fogs up my mind

they tell me I’m not good enough

that I’m not worth it to the Divine

my faith is shaking

I can’t find who I am

I am enchained by anxiety

as desolation takes command

saltwater shakes my core

and spills over the rims of my eyes

as the ocean drowns me

I succumb to numbness inside

I frantically glance into the distance

and find His lighthouse shining from miles away

guiding me home

from tides that make me stray

He shows me the universe;

constellations trace my skin

and even when I’m breaking,

my galaxies shine from stardust within

He shows me the dawn;

as it breaks, so do I

but there’s a beauty in my breaking

as red and gold paint the morning sky

To Him I am worth more

than this world entirely

and that’s all I need to overcome

my haunting thoughts of mortality

an honorable guest

has settled in the valley of my heart

He illuminates it with hope and light

in places I’ve broken apart

-SS Barkat

________________________________

It's World Mental Health Day tomorrow!

One in five adults suffer from a mental illness each year within the United States. More Americans struggle with depression than they do with coronary heart disease, cancer, and HIV/AIDS2. Unfortunately, stigmas founded on misunderstandings of mental illnesses are common. Some may inappropriately label the lack of energy that a depressed individual struggles with as laziness. In turn, those that are suffering turn away from getting the professional help that they need from fear of what people may say.

The “uninvited guest” in this poem refers to depression. The poem’s title aims to demonstrate that depression is just as real as any other physical disease that one may have. It isn’t a state that those suffering choose to be in; rather, depression appears uninvited and begins to govern the mind and body of the victim. Overall, the purpose of this poem is to share the complex nature of depression, the thoughts that may plague the minds of those that are depressed, and ways in which we can all look at the signs around us to remember our self worth in times that we feel lost and hopeless.

By sharing experiences and having open and honest conversations about mental health, we can become a step closer to shattering stigmas and improving access to treatment and services as a community of health care workers.

Have a friend who needs help?; Give them a hug, a pat on the back. Let them cry on your shoulder or your lap. Don't underestimate the power of simple things.

 Ask for help when it gets too much:

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

NYC Well: 1-888-NYC-WELL or Text "WELL" to 65173

In-house: Erica Hutchinson, Ph.D.

Office: (718) 283-8174

Work Cell: (347) 996-6090

Have a great weekend and stay well,

TR Adam

5 Tricks to Help with your Wellness

A survey of 1,257 healthcare workers across 24 hospitals in China taking care of COVID-19 patients showed that 50% of the healthcare workers had symptoms of depression and anxiety, 72% indicated acute distress, and 34% indicated insomnia (Lai et. al, 2020).

As Emergency providers, we already work a stressful job and COVID-19 definitely added to the stress!

Here are 5 evidence-based techniques shown to decrease the development of symptoms of depression and anxiety:

1) Mindfulness Meditation:

This is a broad term referring to meditative processes to help ground individuals in the present.

Practice mindfulness during stressful situations through box breathing: inhale for 4 seconds hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds. This activates parasympathetic nervous system and decreases cortisol.

Popular phone apps "Headspace" and "Calm" are great resources to use.

2) Exercise:

Exercise for 150 minutes per week which can be done in 10-minute increments, best if spread over the week.

Exercise has similar effects to antidepressants by increasing sensitivity to norepinephrine, serotonin, and neurotrophic factors.

3) Limit superficial social media, deepen digital social connections:

Superficial use of social media has been associated with deleterious effects on mental health. Set a limit on social media of no more than 30 minutes a day.

Instead, video chat or call your family or friends.

Establish a buddy system and do daily check-ins with each other.

4) Diet:
A healthy diet affects all aspects of health including mental health. Studies support the Mediterranean diet which limits highly processed foods and red meat and instead favors vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, fish, and whole grains.

5) Therapy and Counseling:

Engage in mental health resources through peer support or through a mental health professional. Also unofficially "check in" with yourself.